Puppet movable on a wheel to simulate walking



R. M. COOK March 17, 1964 PUPPET MOVABLE ON A WHEEL TO SIMULATE WALKINGFiled June 25, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 mullmhn,

1N VEN TOR.

1 ROBERT M. COOK ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 COOK 3,124,900

PUPPET MOVABLE ON A WHEEL TO SIMULATE WALKING Filed June '25. 1960 5Sheets-$11991, 2

INVENTOR. ROBERT M. COOK ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 coo 3,124,900

PUPPET MOVABLE ON A WHEEL TO SIMULATE WALKING Filed. June 23, 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 3.

' INVENTOR. ROBERT M. COOK ATTORNEYS R. M. COOK March 17, 1964 PUPPETMOVABLE ON A WHEEL T0 SIMULATE WALKING Filed June 25. 1960 5Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 4.

INVENTOR ROBERT M. COOK ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,1243% PUPPETMOVABLE 0N A WIEEL TO SEMULATE WALKING Robert M. Cook, 6506 McLennanAve, Van Nuys, Calif. Filled June 23, 1960, Ser, No. 38,391 15 Claims.(Cl. 461il5) The present invention relates generally to mechanicallyactuated puppets, and more particularly to puppets which aremechanically animated by manipulation of control apparatus located onthe opposite side of the surface upon which the puppets perform.

The puppets of the invention are very different from the existingmethods of hand and string puppetry, and provide, for example, a meansof making motion pictures of puppet characters without resort totedious, expensive, stop-action photography. The present puppets may bephotographed in live action, in contrast to the stop-action process ofshooting or photographing a frame at a time.

There are no depending strings attached to the puppets, as in stringpuppetry, no covered wrists, as in hand puppetry, and the arms and legsof the puppets can be made to move with a minimum of mechanical controlattachments visible to an audience. Additional animation of the mouth,chest, and the like provide an extremely lifelike variety of motions tothe puppets.

Although the present invention will subsequently be described withreference to a preferred embodiment, the puppets may take various forms,depending upon the type of animation desired, and the invention is notto be limited to the particular embodiment set forth. Thus, the animatedcharacter can take the form of a Walking puppet having a pair of armsand legs, wherein the puppet frame carries means forming a round surfacein contact with the stage fioor. As the puppet is moved about the stage,these means, which are illustrated as a thin wheel, rotate, and therotation is transmitted through linkages to the puppet legs, imparting alifelike walking motion. If a puppet is employed which has no legs, aball used as a support would provide a comical rolling effect to themoving puppet.

The puppet is conveniently positioned above a slot in the stage floor,or at the edge of the stage floor, with the rotatable wheel resting uponthe floor. A hollow control column is rigidly attached at its upper endto the puppet, and extends downwardly through or beyond the stage floor.A control assembly is rigidly attached to the lower end of the column,and includes a plurality of manually manipulatable controls. Acorresponding plurality of control strings or wires are secured to thesecontrols and extend upwardly through the column to various portions ofthe puppet, such as the legs, arms, mouth and chest. Manual operation ofthe plurality of controls produces animation of the puppet, and the solecontrol means visible to the audience is the column carrying the controlwires. A startling illusion of lifelike animation is thus produced.

Since the puppet, column, and control assembly are rigidly securedtogether, the control assembly can be moved, tilted, and rotated toeffect corresponding animation of the puppet. Further, the provision ofthe hollow column makes possible the addition of various control wiresto produce any desired movement of a portion of the puppet, includingdoffing of the puppets hat, as will be seen.

The hollow column includes offset portions so that one of the portionsmay be held steady with one hand while the other portion is rotated.This action produces a comical spinning of the puppet.

Since the puppet may be operated at the edge of the stage or throughslots in the stage floor, walls, or ceiling, the puppet can be made towalk or move over the floor,

walls, or ceiling of the stage with equal facility, providing a novelfreedom of action very entertaining to an audience.

Rythmic manipulation of the control for the arms is eifective to spinthe arms through a complete circle, and in either direction.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide amechanical puppet which can be controlled to move upon various parts ofa stage to provide maximum choice of camera angles for television andmotion picture photography.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel puppet which iscontrolled from the side of the stage opposite to that upon which thepuppet rests.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a puppet whichis quickly and delicately responsive to manipulation of a remote controlassembly connected to the puppet body by hidden wires.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical puppet whichis movable over a stage upon a means forming a rounded surface, such asa wheel, ball, disk or the like, which means is effective to produce asmooth, realistic movement of the puppet about a stage.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the following specificationand appended drawings wherein is illustrated a preferred form of theinvention, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the entire puppet assembly,illustrating the puppet body, control column, and control assembly;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, par.- tially in crosssection, of the puppet body;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially in crosssection, of the puppet body;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the puppet body illustrated in FIGURES2 and 3, portions thereof being cut away for clarity;

FIGURE 5 is a front elevational view of the control assembly and controlcolumn;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the control assembly and controlcolumn;

FIGURE 7 is a view taken along line 7--7 of FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 7, but showing the controlpulleys in full line, with one of the control levers being operated.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 through 4, a description will first be madeof the puppet body 10, followed thereafter by a description of thecontrol assembly 12 which is operated to animate the puppet body 10through control column 14.

Puppet body 10 comprises, generally, a left side plate 16 and a rightside plate 18 which extend substantially vertically in spaced apart,parallel relationship, and are secured adjacent their upper ends to ayoke block 20 which maintains the plates in position. Plates 16 and 18and block 20' serve as a frame to support a number of components ofpuppet body 10.

The upper portion of the mechanical structure of the puppet is enclosedin a glass fiber laminate shell 22 which is attached to the ends of alower bracket 24, FIGURES 3 and 4, which extends from front to rear ofthe puppet. This bracket 24 is secured at its mid portion to left sideplate 16 (not shown). A pair of side brackets 26 and 28, at either sideof body shell 22, secure the lower side portions of the shell 22 to sideplates 18 and 16, respectively, FIGURES 3 and 4, to prevent shell 22from moving sideways relative to these plates. In addition, the upperpart of body shell 22. is anchored in position by an upper bracket 30,FIGURE 3, which is 23 secured to the shell 22 at one end, and to rightside plate 18 by usual machine screws 32.

The body shell 22 separates into half-sections for convenient access tothe interior of the puppet. The separation joint is located at the sidesof the puppet, and the half-sections are secured together by fourbrackets 34, two of which are illustrated in FIGURE 4.

The head 36 of the puppet is made of latex rubber and is attached to thebody shell 22 by a plurality of metal screws 38, FIGURE 3, which areevenly spaced about the perimeter of head 36 to hold the head securelyin position. This arrangement permits the interchanging of various headsto create new puppet characters without the necessity of majordisassembly of the puppet.

As the puppet performs, it is supported on the stage surface 40 by meanswhich provide a round or rolling surface. In the present embodiment thistakes the form of a plastic wheel 42, although it will be apparent thata sphere, a tire, or a tread mounted for rotation upon the puppet body18 would also operate satisfactorily.

Wheel 42 is fixed to an axle 44 by a pair of nuts 46 threaded upon theaxle 44, FIGURE 2, and the ends of axle 44 are rotatably carried at itsends within suitable openings in side plates 16 and 18 so that wheel 42is rotatable relative to the main portion of puppet body 10. Thus, asthe puppet is moved across the stage, wheel 42 rolls on the stagesurface 40.

Wheel 42 is arranged so that it is in contact with an upper wheel 48whereby, as will be seen, rotation of wheel 42 effects a correspondingrotation of wheel 48. Wheel 48, in turn, is pinned to a transverselydisposed crankshaft 58 so that these parts rotate together, crankshaft58 being rotatably carried through suitable, closely fitted openingsprovided in a wheel fork 52. It is important that no slippage occurbetween wheels 42 and 48 so that movement of the puppet over the stagewill rotate crankshaft 50. Accordingly, a wide rubber band 54 isstretched over the peripheral face of wheel 48 to provide goodfrictional engagement, and a wheel fork 52 is slidably urged downwardly,carrying crankshaft 50 and wheel 48 downwardly with it. Moreparticularly, wheel fork 52 is slidably carried between side plates 16and 18, and the openings in side plates 16 and 18 through whichcrankshaft 50 extends are made oversize, so that a limited amount ofrelative movement can occur between the plates 16 and 18 and crankshaft50 when wheel fork 52 is raised and lowered.

Wheel fork 52 is constantly biased or urged downwardly, thereby urgingwheels 42 and 48 into firm contact, by a compression spring 56 whichacts at its ends against the upper portion of fork 52 and the lowerportion of yoke block 20. The spring 56 is kept in position by a screw58 which is secured at its lower end to fork 52. At its upper end thescrew 58 is slidably receivable within a vertical opening provided inyoke block 20.

Rotation of crankshaft 50 rotates the crank throws at the ends ofcrankshaft 50 which are positioned for slidable travel within slotsprovided in a pair of leg plates 60 and 62. Plates 60 and 62 aresecured, respectively, to the upper portions of a pair of legs 64 and 66by a plurality of pins 68, one of which is illustrated in FIGURE 4, and,therefore, rotation of the crank throws causes legs 64 and 66 to swingforward and backward from their supporting pivot points in analternating, natural walking action. The pivot points are provided by apair of machine screws 70,FIGURES 2 and 4, which are rotatably disposedthrough legs 64 and 66, respectively, and rigidly secured to side plates18 and 16. The axis of these pivot points is located below the points ofengagement of leg plates 60 and 62 to enable the desired pivotalmovement of the legs.

Each of legs 64 and 66 includes a lower leg portion 72 which ispivotally carried by its associated leg by pairs of side plates 74.These side plates are rigidly natural appearance on the stride to therear.

secured to the legs by small nails 76, and pivotally secured to the legportions 72, respectively, by pins 78. With this arrangement, as the topof either of the legs 64 and 66 is swung rearwardly or backwardly, theconnection of that leg with its lower portion acts as a knee which movesforward, leaving the lower portion lagging behind so that the completeleg assembly gives the appearance of a bent leg. As the knee reaches itsmost forward position and starts its sudden movement to the rear, themomentum of the lower portion of the leg carries the lower portionforward. This results in a straightening of the leg assembly, and givesthe leg action a The lower leg portion 72 is convex in shape, and theupper leg with which it is mated is concave in shape, and a stop orbumper 80, FIGURE 2, is provided on the mating surface of each lower legportion 72 to engage the upper leg and thereby limit forward travel ofthe lower leg when the upper leg is swinging rearwardly. This preeach ofthe lower leg portions by a dowel 84 which is slidably carried within asuitable bore provided in the associated lower leg portion '72, andwhich is fastened to the bottom of assembly 82 by screws 86. Dowel 84 issufficiently tightly fitted within its bore that shoe assembly 82 willnot drop downwardly of its own weight, but should assembly 82undesirably strike the stage surface 48 and interfere with the rotationof the wheel 42, assembly 82 would be allowed to move upwardly by thesliding of dowel 84 upwardly into its bore. To insure that the shoeassembly 82 does not drop off its associated leg, a pin 88 istransversely disposed through assembly 82 and through a vertical slot 98provided in dowel 84, FIGURE 3.

As the walking puppet rolls across the stage surface 40 and then comesto a stop, it is important for the puppet legs to be in a naturalvertical position, and this occurs when the crank throws of crankshaft50 extend substantial- 1y vertically. The present puppet includes anapparatus to provide positively that the crank throws will be arrangedvertically whenever desired, thereby insuring that the legs of thepuppet are straight up and down. More particularly, a length of stiffwire 92 is formed into an elongated loop which is arranged over theright crank throw of crankshaft 58, as best illustrated in FIGURES 2 and3. The lateral position of wire 92 is maintained by a pair of washers 94which are pinned to the crank throw. The upper end of the loop of wire92 is secured to one end of 'an elongated leg straightening lever 96which is pivotal- 1y secured at its mid portion to yoke block 28* by abolt 98. The other end of lever 96 carries a control wire 188 which ispulled downwardly by operation of the control assembly 12, as will laterbe described.

The loop of wire 92 is of sufficient length to allow free movement ofthe right crank throw up and down its length as the throw rotates.During this relative movement the wire 92 swings forward and rearwardlyat its lower end. Assuming now that the puppet is stopped, and it isdesired to straighten its legs, a downward pulling of the control wire1% causes wire loop 92 to be pulled upwardly, and, if the right crankthrow is not arranged vertically, the lower end of loop 92 will engagethe throw and move it to a vertical position. This will also verticallyposition the legs 64 and 66 of the puppet.

The present puppet is provided with a left arm 182 and a right arm 184,the latter being rigidly attached to one end of a transversely extendingcrankshaft 186, FIGURES 2 and 4. Crankshaft 186 spins freely, beingdisposed through suitable opennigs in the spaced sides of a bracket. 108which is secured to right side plate 18 by the same fasteners which holdbracket 30 in position. The opposite end of crankshaft 186 is formedinto a throw which forms a 40 degree angle with the horizontal whenright arm 104 is hanging in a normal down position. This crank throwrotatably carries an elongated loop of stiff wire 11% to which a controlwire 112 is attached.

When control assembly 12 is operated, wire 112 can be pulled downwardlyto rotate the throw of crankshaft 1%, and hence raise right arm 1%. Theamount of downward pull on wire 112 will dictate the amount by which arm1%- is raised. Further, by rhythmic downward pulling and releasing ofcontrol wire 1 12, arm 1114 can be made to spin or rotate. This rotationis enhanced by the curve of arm 1% and the center of gravity of arm 184,which is to the rear of the axis of crankshaft 166 when arm 164 is in astraight up position. That is, arm 11%- tends to return rearwardly toits down position by gravity. :Proper manipulation of control wire 112will spin arm 1% in either direction, and at various rates of rotation.

The left arm 162 is rotatably mounted to body shell 22 by a bolt 114-,FIGURE 4, which is rigidly secured to shell 22 and rotatably carried ina tubular sleeve 116 carried by arm 1112. Thus, arm 102 is a freeswinging arm. it can be provided with a control wire just as wasdescribed in connection with arm 164, but preferably it is merelyfree-swinging to enable it to be spun or rotated by manipulation of theentire puppet assembly. Sudden, turning movements of the puppet cause acomic flailing of the arm, and, with a rhythmic twisting motion of thewhole puppet, arm 102 can be made to spin in a fashion similar to thedescribed spinning of arm 1%. It is important to note that arm 11% isalso free-swinging because of the elongated loop connection 110, as wellas mechanically controlled by the control wire 112. That is, the lengthof the loop of wire 110 permits the throw of crankshaft 1% to movewithin the loop without pushing or pulling of the control wire 112.

The month 118 of the rubber head is caused to stretch, to what appearsto be an open position, by downward movement of the outer end of anelongated lever 1 2i), FIGURES 3 and 4. Lever 120 is fixed to a shaft122 which is transversely disposed between and rotatably car.- ried bythe sides of an upwardly extending channel-shaped bracket 124 which isrigidly secured at its lower portion to side plates 16 and 18. The otherend of lever 120 connects with a control wire 126 which is trainedupwardly through an opening in a guide plate 18 which is secured tobracket 12d. Wire 126 is then trained over a pulley 131) which isrotatably carried upon a shaft mounted transversely between the sides ofthe channel-shaped bracket 124. From pulley 131) the wire is disposeddownwardly toward the control assembly 12, as will later be described.

When control wire 126 is pulled downwardly, the outer end of lever 120is also moved downwardly, and month 118 is caused to stretch to anapparently open position. An elastic band 1322 is secured between theinner end of lever 12% and a bracket 134, FIGURES 3 and 4, which issecured to left side plate 16 band 13 2 serving to return mouth 118 to aclosed position in the absence of a downward pulling of control wire126.

A length of still? wire, such as piano wire 136 is substantiallyvertically disposed through the interior of the puppet body .10,extending downwardly to the control assembly 12. The upper end of thestiff wire 136 protrudes through an opening in the puppet head 36, and ahat block 138 is secured to this upper end. It is noted that the upperend of wire 13-6 is bent, FIGURE 4, so that block 13 8 is mountedeccentrically with respect to the vertical axis of wire 136. With thisarrangement, wire 136 may be rotated about its axis to spin the hatblock 133, and a raising or upward movement of wire 136 gives theillusion that the puppet is dofling its hat.

A life-like animated breathing is provided the puppet by a chestbreathing piate 1'41 FIGURES 3 and 4, which is pivotally attached at itsupper edge to the chest area of body shell 22 by a pair of clips 142,one of which is illustrated in F iGURE 4. Plate 140 includes a bent-uptab- 144, and a control wire 146 is secured to tab 144, is trainedthrough a suitable opening in the body shell 22, and is trained about aquadrant arm 148 which is pivotally mounted to left side plate 16. Fromarm 148, the control wire is disposed downwardly toward control assembly12. With this arrangement, a downward pull on control wire 146 causesbreathing plate 1 4 9 to pivot about its upper edge, and the bottom edgeswings forward and upward to cause the shirt or jacket of the puppet toswell out, giving the illusion that the puppet is breathing. Plate 149is returned to its inward position by a rubber band 150, FIGURE 3, whichcompletely encircles the body shell 22 and crosses the breathing plate1-46.

The top of the puppets head 36 is kept from moving forward, when themonth 118 opens, by the restraint of a bracket 152 which is secured tothe sides of bracket 124, and a wad of cotton 154 conceals the hardoutlines of this bracket 152.

A hollow tube 156, FIGURES 2 and 3, is disposed upwardly through theinterior of the puppet, and terminates in a flaring mouth into which thevarious control wires are deployed. These wires are carried down withinthe hollow interior of tube 156 to the control assembly 12.

Tube 156 is secured in position by a pair of clamps 157 which arefastened to left side plate 16 so that any movement of tube 156 resultsin movement of the puppet body 10.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 5 through 8, the control assembly 12 andits connection to tube 156 of the puppet will next be described.

The lower end of tube 156 is disposed through a metal pointer 15% andthrough a split clamping block 160 to which pointer 158 is rigidlysecured. Block 161) is securely tightened upon tube 156 by screws 162 sothat pointer 158 will remain oriented in a predetermined position toindicate the direction in which the puppet is facing.

An upper spinning handle 164 is rotatably carried by tube 156 belowblock 160. Below this an offset crank block 165 accepts the lower end oftube 156 and the upper end of a similar hollow tube 166. Screw plates168 and 171) tightly clamp blocks 172 and 174, respectively, againsttubes 156 and 166 to prevent relative rotation between crank block 165and tubes 156 and 166.

The control wires coming out of the lower end of tube 156 are trainedinto the upper end of tube 166 by a pair of pulleys 1'76 and 178 whichare connected to crank block 165 by pairs of brackets. However, thestifi control wire 136 for doffing the puppets hat extends straight downfrom tube 156 and is secured to a cylindrical block 1813. This block maybe moved upwardly and downwardly, or spun by the fingers, to obtain thedesired manipulation of hat block 138.

A lower spinning handle 1%2 is rotatably carried by tube 156 beneathcrank block 165, and it is noted that by firmly holding upper handle 164and rotating handle 182, the puppet body 143 can be made to spin, asdesired.

The lower end of tube 166 is securely held within the upper portion of alever control block 184 by a screw plate 186 which acts against aclamping block 188 to securely grip tube 166 and prevent relativerotation between tube 166 and block 184.

A vertically disposed rod 1% is mounted to lever block 184 by suitablebrackets, and carries four pulley brackets 192 which are pivotable aboutrod 190 and spaced apart by a plurality of sleeves fitted over rod 191To each pulley bracket 192 is rotatably mounted a pulley 1%.

Four control levers 196, 193, 2130, and 2112 are mounted adjacent thepulleys 194, each of the levers being pivotally carried at one end by arod 264 which is secured by brackets to a rod 204 which is secured bybrackets to a pair of arms 206, FIGURE 1, which are fixed to levercontrol block 184. A control wire is attached adjacent the opposite endof each of these levers, and the wire is trained over the adjacent oneof pulleys 194 and thence up into control tube 166. As each of thecontrol levers is moved away from its associated pulley 194, the controlwire connected to that lever will be pulled downwardly.

To operate the control assembly 12, the uppeteer places the thumb of hisright hand upon a thumb rest 2&8 secured to block 134, and also placesthe four fingers of the same hand upon the control levers. The left handis placed upon control tube 166 to steady the puppet. Next, theparticular one or more of control levers 196, 193, 290, and 202 isactuated to obtain the desired puppet animation. In the presentembodiment, control wires 126, 146, 1%, and 112 are connected,respectively, to the control levers 196, 198, 200, and 282.

From the foregoing description, it is seen that the present mechanicalpuppetry is uniquely adapted to be moved with great freedom about astage. Further, the present puppet may be tilted, spun around, and movedwith a minimum of mechanical controls visible to an audience, and avariety of forms of animation are available through employment of theplurality of control wires and control levers.

The wheel 42 is merely exemplary of the various means that can beprovided to aiford a round or rolling surface for supporting the puppetand effecting smooth movement of the puppet from one portion of thestage to another portion of the stage. j

l/Vhile a certain preferred embodiment of the invention has beenspecifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is notlimited thereto as many variations will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadestpossible interpretation within the terms of the following claims:

I claim:

1. A mechanical puppet comprising:

a hollow puppet body simulating a human form;

a wheel means rotatably carried by and partially enclosed from viewwithin the lower portion of said puppet body for supporting said puppetbody for movement upon a surface;

a hollow column depending from within said puppet body to a point belowthe lowermost portion of said wheel means;

control means secured adjacent the lower end of said column;

and a plurality of flexible control elements extending through saidcolumn and connected at one end to said control means and at the otherend to portions of said puppet body to be animated, said control meansbeing operable to pull upon said control elements to animate saidportions of said puppet body.

2. A mechanical puppet according to claim 1 and characterized in that atleast one rigid continuous control element is also disposed within saidcolumn and is connected to said control means and to a portion of saidpuppet whereby said rigid control element is adapted to etfect animationof said portion of said puppet when urged upwardly into said puppetbody.

3. A mechanical puppet according to claim 1 and characterized in thatsaid column at intervals below the lowermost portion of said wheel meansand above said control means includes a pair of unobstructed portionswhose longitudinal axes are laterally offset with respect to one anotherwhereby said portions are manipulatable to rotate said column andthereby rotate said puppet body about its longitudinal axis.

4. A mechanical puppet comprising: a puppet body having a pair of legs,said body and legs simulating a human form; means pivotally supportingsaid legs from within said puppet body; a wheel member rotatably carriedby and partially enclosed within the lower portion of said puppet bodyand extending between said legs, the

lowermost portion of which wheel member being located adjacent the lowerends of said legs; and coupling means connected between said legs andsaid wheel member and operative upon rotation of said wheel member toswingingly pivot said legs.

5. A mechanical puppet comprising: a puppet body; a pair of legs; pivotmeans pivotally connecting said legs to said body; elements fixed to theupper portions of each of said legs and extending upwardly into saidbody above said pivot means; a wheel member rotatably carried by saidpuppet body between said legs and partially enclosed within the lowerportion of said puppet body for rolling movement upon a supportingsurface, coupling means connected to said wheel member and includingcrank throws operative upon said elements to swingingly pivot said legsupon rotation of said member. I

6. A mechanical puppet comprising: a puppet body; a pair of legs; pivotmeans pivotally connecting said legs to said body, said legs includingelements fixed thereto and extending upwardly above said pivot means; amember rotatably carried by said puppet body between said legs andhaving a continuous rolling surface for movement upon a surface;coupling means connected to said member and including a plurality ofcrank throws at least two of which are operative upon said elements whensaid two throws are out of a predetermined angular position relative tosaid body to pivot said legs from a vertical stance upon rotation ofsaid member; means engageable with at least one of said two crank throwsand operative to position said crank throws in said predeterminedangular position; and a control element depending from said puppet bodyand extending upwardly within said puppet body for operating saidlast-mentioned means.

7. In a mechanical puppet the combination comprising: a puppet body; apar of legs each including an upper leg portion and a lower leg portionjoined together with freedom for limited swinging motion of the lowerleg portion relative to its upper leg portion in a manner simulating aknee joint; joint means separately swingingly connecting each of theupper portions of said legs to said body; a lever element fixed to theupper portions of each of said legs and extending upwardly into saidbody above said joint means; a rotatable member rotatably carried bysaid body between said legs and partially enclosed within said body andhaving a rolling surface for rotational movement upon a supportingsurface; and coupling means actuated by said rotatable member includingrotatably mounted crank throws engaging said lever elements to swingsaid upper portions of said legs about said joint means.

8. In a mechanical puppet, the combination comprising: a puppet body; apair of legs each including an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion,and a foot portion, said upper and lower leg portions being joinedtogether with freedom for limited swinging motion of the lower legportion relative to its upper leg portion in a manner simulating a kneejoint and said lower leg portion and said foot portion being joinedtogether for permitting limited motion of said foot portion in thedirection of the longitudinal axis of said lower leg portion; jointmeans separately swingingly connecting each of the upper portions ofsaid legs to said body; a lever element fixed to the upper portions ofeach of said legs and extending upwardly into said body above said jointmeans; a round member rotatably carried by said body between said legsand having a rolling surface for rotational movement upon a supportingsurface; and coupling means including crank means interconnecting eachsaid lever element and said round member actuated by said rota tionalmovement to swing said upper portions of said legs about said jointmeans.

9. A combination according to claim 7 in which the joint between theupper leg portion and the lower leg portion of each leg includes meanslimiting the forward swing of the lower leg portion to a position insubstantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of its upper legportion, but permitting a backward swing of the lower leg portionthrough an angle relative to the said longitudinal axis of its upper legportion.

10. A combination according to claim 8 in which the joint between theupper leg portion and the lower leg portion of each leg includes meanslimiting the forward swing of the lower leg portion to a position insubstantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of its upper legportion, but permits the backward swing of the lower leg portion throughan angle relative to the said longitudinal axis of its upper legportion.

11. A mechanical puppet comprising:

a puppet body;

a pair of legs;

pivot means pivotally connecting said legs to said body;

a rotatable member rotatably carried by said puppet body between saidlegs and having a continuous rolling surface for movement upon asurface;

coupling means connected to said rotatable member and including aplurality of crank throws at least two of which are connected to saidlegs and operative when said two throws are in a predetermined positionto position said legs in a vertical standing position and when out ofsuch predetermined position to pivot said legs from such verticalstanding position upon rotation of said member;

another means engageable with at least one of said crank throws andoperative to position said two crank throws in said predeterminedposition and thereby position said legs in said vertical standingposition;

and a control element depending from said puppet body and extendingupwardly within said puppet body for such operating of said lastmentioned means.

12. A mechanical puppet comprising:

a hollow puppet body having a pair of legs, said body and legssimulating a human form;

pivot means pivotally supporting said legs from within said puppet body;

a relatively thin wheel member rotatably carried by and partiallyenclosed and partially hidden within the lower portion of said puppetbody and extending between said legs, the lowermost portion of whichwheel member is located adjacent to and substantially horizontallyopposite the lower ends of said legs;

and coupling means interconnecting said legs and said wheel member andoperative upon rotation of said wheel member to swingingly pivot saidlegs about said pivot means.

13. A mechanical puppet comprising:

a hollow puppet body having a pair of legs;

means pivotally supporting said legs from within said puppet body;

a first wheel member rotatably carried by and partially enclosed withinthe lower portion of said puppet body and extending downwardly betweensaid legs, the lower portion of which first wheel member is locatedadjacent and at substantially the same level as the lower ends of saidlegs and adapted to make rolling engagement with an upwardly facingsupporting surface;

a second wheel rotatably carried within said body and rotatablysupported therein for continuous driving engagement with said firstwheel member;

and coupling means interconnecting said legs and said second wheel,whereby rotation of said first wheel member effects rotation of saidsecond wheel which, in turn, through said coupling means effectsswinging movement of said legs about said pivot means.

14. In a mechanical puppet generally simulating a human form, apparatuscomprising:

a hollow body simulating a human torso, said body having an opening atits lower end;

a pair of legs with feet attached to the lower end thereof, extendingdownwardly through said opening;

pivot means separately pivotally connecting said legs adjacent the upperends thereof to pivot support means within the lower portion of saidbody, whereby said legs are separately swingable about said pivot meansin a vertical plane a limited distance forwardly and rearwardly of saidbody;

a first wheel member for movingly supporting said puppet body upon asurface, said wheel member being rotatably attached to the interior ofsaid body and positioned between said legs for rotation in a planeparallel with said vertical plane, with the upper portions thereofextending upwardly through said opening and into said body, and thelower edge thereof being located substantially horizontally opposite thelower ends of said feet;

a leg lever member fixed to the upper portion of each of said legs andextending upwardly in said body above said pivot means;

an elongated, longitudinally extending guide slot in each said leg levermember;

a second wheel member enclosed and rotatably supported within said body,said second wheel being in driving engagement with said first wheelmember;

and crank means attached to said second wheel member includingrotationally opposite crank throws, one each of said throws slidinglydrivingly engaging one each of said guide slots in said lever means,whereby rotation of said second wheel member by said first wheel memberimparts opposite swinging movement to said levers and thence to saidlegs.

15. A mechanical puppet in accordance with claim 14 in which said legsinclude:

an upper leg portion, a lower leg portion, and a foot portion, saidupper and lower leg portions being jointed together with limited freedomfor swinging motion of the lower leg portion relative to its upper legportion in said vertical plane for a limited distance rearwardly ofsubstantial longitudinal align ment therewith in a manner simulating aknee joint, and said lower leg portion and said foot portion beingjointed together for permitting simultaneous limited motion of said footportion in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said lower legportion.

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12. A MECHANICAL PUPPET COMPRISING: A HOLLOW PUPPET BODY HAVING A PAIROF LEGS, SAID BODY AND LEGS SIMULATING A HUMAN FORM; PIVOT MEANSPIVOTALLY SUPPORTING SAID LEGS FROM WITHIN SAID PUPPET BODY; ARELATIVELY THIN WHEEL MEMBER ROTATABLY CARRIED BY AND PARTIALLY ENCLOSEDAND PARTIALLY HIDDEN WITHIN THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID PUPPET BODY ANDEXTENDING BETWEEN SAID LEGS, THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF WHICH WHEEL MEMBERIS LOCATED ADJACENT TO AND SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY OPPOSITE THE LOWERENDS OF SAID LEGS; AND COUPLING MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID LEGS AND SAIDWHEEL MEMBER AND OPERATIVE UPON ROTATION OF SAID WHEEL MEMBER TOSWINGINGLY PIVOT SAID LEGS ABOUT SAID PIVOT MEANS.